Closure device



June 7, 1960 Filed June 29, 1955 e. E. RUBENS 2,939,450

CLOSURE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 )OOO IIIIIIII a; IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII GEE/7L0 61 19066746,

INVEN TOR.

airmen/EV G. E. RUBENS CLOSURE DEVICE June 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 666940 E. QUEEN-5,

INVENTOR.

Filed June 29, 1955 United States CLOSURE DEVICE Gerald E. Rubens, 334 Comstock Ave.,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed June 29, 1955, Ser. No. 518,777

5 Claims. (Cl. 126140) While wire mesh of this type is useful for preventing a certain portion of the sparks emitted by the fire from' passingthrough the'screen; that it is not eifective for preventing all the. sparks from passing through the screen and that soot can freely pass therethrough. Screens of this type are further objectionable in that a wire mesh to a great extent obstructs the vision of the fire. The closure device of the present invention contemplates a pair'of panels which are supported relative to a pair of stationary panels located respectively at the top and bottom of the fireplace screen frame to move from a closed position to an open position, in the open position the opening being of a size sufiicient to permit easy access to the fireplace. These movable panels are preferably. constructed of any suitable heat-resistant transparent material such as glass so that a fireplace screen of this type has all the utility of a screen employing wire mesh besides completely insuring against the passing of sparks through the screen and the emission of smoke therethrough. A screen of this type also has the aesthetic consideration that the viewers view of the fire is not hindered or distorted in any manner.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a closure device for moving two panels from each other while guiding the movement of the panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable fire place screen having movable transparent panels which do not obstruct the view and which are easily moved apart. V

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable fireplace screen having movable panels and means for movingthe panels in unison in opposite directions in such a manner that the panels are easily movable from their closed position to their open position relative to the fireplace screen.

These and other objectsof the invention not specifically stated above will become readily apparent from the accompanying description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a fireplace screen incorporating the novel closure device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a section of the back of the fireplace screen shown in Fig. l, slightly enlarged.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2, slightly enlarged and showing details of construction. V

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lipe 4-4 of Fig. 2, slightly enlarged and showing details of construction.

; atetir t .Fig. 5 is a horizontal sect-ional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, slightly enlarged and showing details of construction.

. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line '6 6 ofrFig. 2,1 slightly enlarged and showing details. in construction.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 77 of Fig. 2, slightly enlarged and showing details in construction;

Fig;' 8 is a perspective view of the back side of the screen diagrammatically illustrating the panels and linkage mechanism in closed position.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 8 showing the panels and linking mechanism in open position.

A fireplace screen embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 and designated broadly by the number 10 and comprises a suitable frame 11 which consists of a pair of upright side members 12 and 13 and a top member 14. Members 12, 13 and 14 are preferably angular shaped in cross section and the vertical side of top member 14 overlaps the front surface of side members 12 and 13 and is secured thereto by rivets 15. Vertically disposed legs 17 of a rigid U-shaped reinforcing member 16, see Fig. 2, are secured by suitable bolts 1-8 to each of the side members 12 and 13 adjacent the lower ends thereof and serve to rigidly tie' the frame members'together at the bottom. V

The screen 10 has a stationary bottom panel 19 and a stationary top panel 20 which are vertically spaced from one another and define the opening of the screen.

The bottom stationary panel extends across the bottom.

of the frame and is composed of a center section21, an upper section 22, and a lower section 23, the upper and lower sections 22 and 23 being in overlapping re-' lationship with respect to center section 21 and center section 21 having its top and bottom edges curled so. as to provide rigidity thereto, see Fig. 7. The opposite ends of center section 21 are secured to the front surface of each of the side members'12 and 13 by bolts 24 and a spacer 25 is positioned between the center section and the front surface of each of the side members so as to prevent bulckling of the front section. The upper. and lower sections are likewise secured at their opposite ends to the front surface of side members 12' and 13 by bolts 26 and 27. A pair, of suitable braces or legs 28 are secured by bolts 24 and 26 so as to support the screen in a substantially vertical position.

The top stationary panel 20 is preferably formed of heat-treated glass and its opposite ends are received in L-shaped'supporting brackets 29, only one of which is visible, which are secured at their ends to the front surface of each of the side members 12 and 13 by bolts 30. It will be appreciated, therefore, that top panel 20 is rigidly supported adjacent the upper end of framell.

An upper movable panel 31 and lower movable panel 32 are likewise supported in frame 11' and are likewise 31 being carried so that in one position its upper edge just overlaps the lower edge of panel 20 and the lower panel 32 being carried so that in one position its upper edge just overlaps the lower edge of panel 31 and its lower edge just overlaps the upper edge of panel 19. In this one position, therefore, it will be apparent that panels 31 and 32 are capable of completely closing the front of the screen opening.

The opposite ends of each of the movable panels 31 and 32 are supported in mounting brackets 33, see Fig. 4, and since each of these mounting brackets is identical in construction, the description of one will apply to all of them. Bracket 33 is preferably in the form of an extrusion of any suitable light metal such aluminum and comprises in the present instancea-channelportiontween sections 35" and the" sections are urged together so as to grip thepaneI-end; To insure against the'panelsliding out of the channel section 34; a'suitable pin37 is received'by sections'35 adjacent the-bottom end thereof,

The neck section 36 has formed therein a pair of guideways 38 which, as will be more fully appreciatedhereinafter, support the bracket forguided up-and-down movement on a guidechannel. 39. Theneck: also has formed thereon a clevis 40 which is fastenedin'any suit;- able manner at its opposite'ends; in an-endlesschain; 41.

It will be appreciated,.therefore,'that mounting bracket: 33 is so designed that brackets of. identical construction can be used for. mountingztheopposite.ends of panels 31 and 32. in spacedapartoverlapping; relationship and the brackets 33 forJsupportingpancl 32 are in end-over-end position withrespect to brackets 33 for supporting panel, 31 so that clevises" are in: opposedi relationship-and the. channel sections, which are; displaced to one side of the centerline, arein spaced-apartrelationship..

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 7, a guide-channel 39:- is. secured adjacent-its upper end by a bolt 42 to side mem: ber 12 and a spacer bar 43,;which also servesto make. the frame more. rigid, and. adjacent its lowerend, by a. bolt 44 which receives thereon. suitable spacers 45, and. bolts 18. A guide, channel; 39 is likewise secured to side-members13 in an identical manner, not visible.

A rigid shaft 46 is,rotata bly carriedlin.suitablefslings 47 which are secured to the upper surface of'top mem-, ber 14 by rivets 48,,only one of. wl1ich-is visible, and the .oppositeends of. shaft46 have suitable gear wheels 49 fixed thereto which are positioned in vertical alignment with the .open top of their respective guide channel 39. A pulley 50 is. rotatably mounted in eachof the guide channels 39' in vertical, alignment with its associated' gear wheel 49 on a bolt 51 which in turn is thread edly receivedina leg. 17 ofmember 16and a washer 52 centers the pulleys for rotation in their respective channels,

Chain41, as previously suggested,.is in' the form of an endless belt which is trained around the pulley and its associatedgear wheel of each of" the guide channels 39, the links of the chain intermeshing with-the teeth ofthe gear wheel49 so. as to cause the shaft torotate when the chain is movedgthereon; Itwillbe'appreciated; therefore, that one flight of eachpf the chains-mvesin one. direction while the other'flight moves inthe opposite direction alike distance. gested the brackets-33 carrying panel 31' are interconnected in one flight of chains 41 whereas brackets 33 carrying panel 32- are interconnected in the other flight of chains 41. A knob 53'is secured to one of 'thebrackets- 33 supporting panel 31'and isuseful in moving-panel 31 and consequently panel-32 from its closed-position to its open position, and each of'the slings 47 threadedly receives a screw 54, which is efiective for moving:

shaft 46 and consequently adjusting the slack in chains:

in-counterbalancing relationship sothat panel 31 is' heldi,

impositionby the weight of panel- 32; This result'is' obtained since bothof-Ithe panels are of about equal. size and weight, and; of; course, some frictionis devel-.. oped inthe; linkageconnecting: theopposite ends;v of

the panels which will prevent movement ifsomeidiffer-v ence in weight of panels is present. Becausexof the counterbalancebetween panels: 31 and 32,. the? panel 31" can be movedupwardly-byknob. 53 adjacent'top: panel 20' with only a. minimum. of exertion; .the, panel.

32"in turn: b'eingconsequently moved downwardly: adia-v cent bottom: pand -19: Amopening in:..ther screen-rise As previously sugthus provided for access to the interior of the fireplace.

Only a minimum of exertion is likewise required tomove panel 31 and consequently panel 32 into their closed and overlapping positions relative to stationary panels 19 and 20 for sealing the opening of the screen.

Because each of the chains 41 are interconnected by shaft 46, the movable panels will move relative to the A guide channels withoutbendingand will remain parallel to each other. For-instance; if'knob'53 is raised, this movement will be transmitted by its adjacentchain 41 to shaft 46 and thento the other. chain 41 so that both chains will be caused to move in unison. Of course, the same action will'result when the' handle 53 is lowered so that the movable panels will always move together in parallel relationship and in opposite directions.

As previously described, the panels 20, 31 and 32 are constructed of heat-treated or tempered glass which does not weaken when" subjected to high temperatureand which will not break easily when struck with a hard object such as fireplace tools. these. panels permits the interior of the fireplace to be observed when the movable panels arein closed posi-- tion and the panels protect against soot, smoke; and' sparks. entering the room from the fireplace. The'bottom panel 19 is preferably formed of metal and the center .section. 21? preferably has openings 55 formed thereinior. permitting; the. circulation of air through the By. the. present invention; a novel fireplace screenisprovided.v which incorporates: novel means; for movably supporting:v the panels. 31 and 32 relative. to: the: screen: frame. It :is understood thatthezprineiples: ofjtheepresent invention. can be utilized. by various. otherv closures. in.

addition to-fireplace screens and-that any suitable ma terial, either opaque or transparent, canbe used for any of the panels.

What'is claimed is:

1.. A: fireplace screen comprising a frame havingtopand bottom stationary panels andupper and lower movable panels, said-movable panels extendin-gtransversely across. the-opening in said frame betweensaid stationary panels, means associated with said framefor guiding.

said movable panelstoanove in predetermined pathstin said-frame, the plane of said top panel beingoffset from the planeofsaid upper movable panel and' the plane of saidbottom panel being offset from the plane of said lower movable panel and said upper movable panel being: coplanar with said bottom stationary panel whereby the upper movable .panelcan be moved upwardly tooverlap thetop panel and the lower movable panel can be moveddownwardly to overlap said bottom panel and whereby a.

rections .with said upper and lower movable. panels both cn.the same side of said top and bottom panels respectively.

2.. A fireplace .screen'comprising av frame having top and bottom stationarypanels'and 'upper and lower movable panels, said movable panels extendingtransversely" across the opening in said'frame between saidstationary panelsgmeans.associated with said ffame on both sides.

thereof 'for guiding said movable panels to move inpredeterminedypaths in said frame, the plane of said top paneLbeing offset from the plane .ofsaidupper movable paneLand. the planev of said bottom panel being offset fromtheplane ofsaid lower movable paneland said upper movable panel'being coplanar with saidbiottom stationary. panel providing a four-panel screen having a three.pane1:.thickness whereby thennpper movable panel. can be moved upwardly to overlap the-toppanel and the The use of glass for lower movable panel can be moved downwardly to overlap said bottom panel, a transverse shaft rotatably carried by said frame adjacent to said top panel, gear wheels fixed to said shaft adjacent to each of said guiding means, a pulley rotatably carried by said frame adjacent to each of said guiding means and adjacent to said bottom panel, and endless force transmitting chains trained around associated gear wheels and pulleys, one flight of each of said chains being connected with said upper movable panel and the other flight of each of said chains being connected to said lower movable panel whereby said upper and lower movable panels will be caused to move in unison in opposite directions.

3. The fireplace screen defined in claim 2 further characterized by each of said movable panels having a mounting bracket fixed to the opposite ends thereof and said mounting brackets being received by said guiding means for guided movement thereon.

4. In a mounting bracket and guide arrangement, a plurality of panels guided thereby in predetermined paths, a common guide member having spaced apart opposed guide edges with a passageway therebetween, a bracket for each panel extending for substantially the height of each panel and being slightly short thereof to allow for overlap of adjacent panel edges,- each bracket comprising a channel portion and a neck portion, said channel portion having a pair of spaced sides for receiving therebetween and gripping one end of one of said panels, said neck portion having formed therein opposed guideways providing a T-section guide, said common guide member 6 guide edges engaging said guideways in each of said T- section guides for slidably supporting said bracket thereon, and said channel portion of each of said brackets being displaced to one side of the longitudinal centerline of said bracket to allow for said overlap of adjacent edges of said panels.

5. The invention defined by claim 4 wherein said common guide member is channel shaped in cross section for reception of a force transmitting belt, and each of said bracket T-section guides having a clevis extending into said common guide member and being connectable to a force transmitting belt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 756,524 Rashkin Apr. 5, 1904' 772,918 Bloom et al. Oct. 25, 1904 801,374 Gervais Oct. 10, 1905 836,239 Buckley Nov. 20, 1906 1,146,673 Troth July 13, 1915 1,485,200 Roberts et a1. Feb. 26, 1924 1,565,938 Hausman Dec. 15, 1925 1,906,677 Waldman May 2, 1933 2,597,539 Smart May 20, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 642,506 France May 5, 1928 1,056,161 France Oct. 21, 1953 1,086,186 France Aug. 4, 1954 

